Sunday, Nov. 4: Post-storm information for Ridgewood residents

Ridgewood residents have been gathering at Somerville School since the storm to recharge their electronic devices. The school will be open again on Monday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Ridgewood officials are posting alerts to Ridgewood residents via telephone, the village website at ridgewoodnj.net and oem.ridgewoodnj.net, and both the Village of Ridgewood and Ridgewood Police Department's Facebook pages.

• Power returned to the Ridgewood Library on Sunday night; the library will reopen at 10 a.m. Monday and close at 9 p.m., but all Monday programs are canceled. In addition, due dates have been extended; if items had an original due date of Oct. 29 through Nov. 8, they are now due on Nov. 9.

• An update issued Sunday by Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn: "Restoring power to Ridgewood has and remains our number priority in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. We fully recognize the hardship being faced by many Ridgewood families and are doing everything possible to mitigate it. The storm did considerable damage to Ridgewood. Immediately following the hurricane, it was estimated that over 70 percent of the Village was without power. That included Valley Hospital and the Ridgewood Water Company. (Both have since been restored.) Yesterday, PSEG estimated that about 55 percent Ridgewood remained without power. Today, the utility estimates that approximately 66 percent of the Village has no power.

"The disparity in PSEG's numbers (increasing from yesterday) speaks to two very unfortunate facts. One is the extent of the damage to Ridgewood. One is the often confusing information coming from PSEG over the past week.

"Please be assured that we are doing everything possible to restore power. We have been in regular contact with county and state leaders. We have been in regular contact with PSEG's regional and state management. And our tree crews have done everything possible from their end to facilitate access to PSEG workers. But PSEG - and only PSEG - has the physical ability to restore power."

Aronsohn invited residents with questions to contact him via email at paronsohn@ridgewoodnj.net or on his cell phone: 201-213-1811.

• Ridgewood residents are being urged to call PSE&G directly at 1-800-436-7734 to report individual problems. "Calling repeatedly may help," Ridgewood officials said in an alert Sunday night.

• Although Gov. Christie on Wednesday signed Executive Order 105, postponing Halloween celebrations across New Jersey until Monday, Nov. 5, Ridgewood officials have said it is too dangerous to trick or treat in Ridgewood. Schools Superintendent Daniel Fishbein asked parents "to be creative and develop an activity in your home." Aronsohn also urged parents "to keep their children indoors until the power is back on and the streets are again safe."

• Ridgewood Public Schools will remain closed on Monday, Nov. 5 and Tuesday, Nov. 6, Fishbein said, adding that "we have worked out contingency plans to start school on Wednesday if streets are safe to pass."

• Several houses of worship and organizations in Ridgewood are opening their doors as warming centers:

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which had been offering overnight shelter space, will be closed on Sunday night because of a new power outage.

• The YJCC in Washington Township has been opened its facility to the public, including the use of showers. It is located at 605 Pascack Road; phone is 201-666-6610.

• Residents who have power are encouraged to help friends and neighbors without power by offering warm meals, hot showers, outlets for recharging, use of laundry facilities and more.

• Village recycling and leaf collection has resumed where possible. The Ridgewood Recycling Center on East Glen Avenue will be open to accept recycling and household garbage.

• Ridgewood's polling sites for Tuesday's general election have been changed because of power outages. Registered voters who typically go to polling stations at Hawes, Orchard, Somerville and George Washington Middle School (GW) shall report to those locations next Tuesday. Power was restored at GW on Friday. Hawes School will also accommodate residents who previously voted at Travell School and Benjamin Franklin Middle School. Somerville School will be the new location for those who voted at Ridgewood High School. Residents who voted at Willard School will be sent to GW. The fire department headquarters on East Glen Avenue will take voters who went to Glen School and the Ridgewood Public Library during previous elections.

Additionally, the Bergen County Clerk's Office has extended its hours for walk-in absentee ballots. The office, located at One Bergen County Plaza in Hackensack, will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 5.

• Overnight parking rules in Ridgewood are still suspended. There is no need to call in information about vehicles left in the street overnight.

• Residents using generators should keep them outside and away from doors and windows. For more information on generator safety, visit oem.ridgewood.net and look under "News and Information" for the "How To Guides."